The case of U.S. Capital Energy versus SATIIM, it was big, big news one year ago when the indigenous group took the multinational oil company to the Supreme Court. But it slipped under the radar last week when a notice was published in the paper stating that the National Environmental Appraisal Committee, NEAC has approved U.S. Capital Energy's Environmental Impact Assessment, the same EIA that the Supreme Court said it had to do before seismic testing could proceed.
And because SATIIM wasn't notified, Executive Director Greg Choq is steaming. In an emotional and strongly worded release, he says the EIA has failed with comply with the terms of reference, specifically as it relates to pollution of waterways. On that basis, he asked NEAC to reject the EIA as incomplete.
But it wasn't rejected; it was accepted, and in response to this, Choq's statement says: "how could NEAC members who sit in their air conditioned offices and think of themselves as little gods know?" It continues: "it is not important to them as they do not live here." Strong talk, and Choq goes unto say that he holds NEAC accountable and notes that he will ask the group for an explanation.
